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An Abundance of Joy

If there is one thing that is clear, it is that there is a poverty of joy everywhere. Certainly in the world we see this poverty of joy. We all no doubt know people who suffer from an inability to find anything positive in life. For them, life is merely an existence. Everyday is filled with drudgery. And it is a tragedy. It’s a tragedy because life doesn’t have to be like that.

But, even in the church we find a poverty of joy. Now this is really tragic. The church ought to be a place where joy abounds. Sadly, this is often not the case.

Christianity does not have to suffer from a poverty of joy because God has given us a promise of joy. In John 15:11 we read, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Here Jesus is telling us that His joy would be in us and make our joy full.

Jesus came to give us life, but it was a certain kind of life that He came to give us. He came to give us eternal life, but He also came to give us abundant life here and now. This abundant life that is ours in Christ is a life characterized by an abiding joy.